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Google's Also Peddling a Data Collector Through Apple's Back Door (techcrunch.com)
Facebook is not the only one abusing Apple's system for distributing employee-only apps to sidestep the App Store and collect extensive data on users. Google has been running an app called Screenwise Meter, which bears a strong resemblance to the app distributed by Facebook Research that has now been barred by Apple, TechCrunch reported Wednesday. From the report: In its app, Google invites users aged 18 and up (or 13 if part of a family group) to download the app by way of a special code and registration process using an Enterprise Certificate. That's the same type of policy violation that led Apple to shut down Facebook's similar Research VPN iOS app, which had the knock-on effect of also disabling usage of Facebook's legitimate employee-only apps -- which run on the same Facebook Enterprise Certificate -- and making Facebook look very iffy in the process. It needs to be pointed out that Google's app is relatively transparent about what it does and who runs it.
One thing I hadn't read yet, do Facebook and Google have similar apps for Android? It seems likely they would... but I had not read that they did.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Why?
How is this different from a person volunteering for a 1-week medical study where you're put in a room and everything about you is recorded?
As the article said, Google is relatively more upfront that this is monitoring everything you do on your phone.
If a company tells you explicitly what it's going to do with you + your info, and you agree and affirmatively opt in, why should government step in?
Are you saying the people are not aware of their full involvement? Should govt lay down the ground rules for what these studies can record / collect like a medical study? What do you propose?
One thing I hadn't read yet, do Facebook and Google have similar apps for Android? It seems likely they would... but I had not read that they did.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.userpanel&hl=en_US
Apparently there are "Screenwise" devices that you put near your TV that track usage (a la Nielsen, I guess), and the Screenwise Meter app works with them somehow. The panel enrollment page is here, but it's by invitation only.
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But . . . but . . . ."Google's app is relatively transparent about what it does and who runs it"
Because announcing "I am a rapist and I am here to rape you" makes it OK.
If the rapee consents (and is competent to consent; of legal age, of sound mind, etc.)... it does make it okay.
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There's a really excellent breakdown of the terms of the Enterprise agreement in the Facebook thread (https://apple.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=13320022&cid=58046318) and it's clear that this is a violation of that agreement no matter how you swing it. Unless these people are contractors and only use the application on-site (which is to say, at Google, under the DIRECT supervision of an employee) this is a clear breach of the contract.
Google may have a little less to lose than Facebook by having the certificate rejected, but it's not going to be a trivial thing for them either.
If the rapee consents (and is competent to consent; of legal age, of sound mind, etc.)... it does make it okay.
But that's not Google's modus operandi. A customer (competent, of legal age, of sound mind, with up to date vaccinations and a document from the neighborhood association certifying he's a good guy) who explicitly disables location tracking, still gets tracked. It's more like
"I'm a rapist - do you want to be raped?"
"No, please"
"OK, I won't" - proceeds to rape you.